Many unhappy homecomings [8:42 AM]Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports:
'"You get the feeling he's in control when he's in there," said receiver Peerless Price. "He knows the offense. He knows the timing everybody has."'

Van Pelt ready to lead Bills [8:38 AM]Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports:
'"I don't know if I see things better (than Johnson)," Van Pelt said. "But that's one thing in this offense: I do have experience in it and I can anticipate some things."'

Sheppard matches up with mentor [6:18 AM]D and C reports:
'Sheppard, who has taken a lot of heat for his inconsistent play-calling, has been limited in his ability to open up his offense because of injuries to the line. His unit is coming off a futile display against New England. Wouldn't a victory today be a sweet way to bounce back?'

Scouting report [6:16 AM]D and C reports:
'If the Bills can slow down Alexander and force Hasselbeck to the air, they stand a much better chance of pulling the upset.'

Q & A with Bill Conaty [6:15 AM]D and C reports:
'[Q:] The offensive line has been under heavy criticism this year. What is your biggest beef with reporters and fans who criticize the offensive line? [A:] ''I can't say what I would want to say, but I'd just say guys are trying their best. There hasn't been as many mental errors as there has physical errors. There's been some of both, but guys are doing their best, busting their butt.'

Alexander not guaranteed anything [6:13 AM]D and C reports:
'When asked if Alexander deserves to start, coach Mike Holmgren played coy, saying "I don't know. I'm going to hold off until we make that decision. I'll have a chance to think it through, to see how healthy he is. We'll go from there."'

Forget those Super Bowls, Kelly belongs in Canton [6:11 AM]D and C reports:
'If winning the big one is the main prerequisite, then I suppose Trent Dilfer, Mark Rypien and Jeff Hostetler will merit consideration over Kelly. And if you think they do, then you must also believe that a football is filled with Flutie Flakes rather than air and that Rob Johnson's bones are made of steel.'

Bills add team's finest QB to Wall of Fame today [6:10 AM]D and C reports:
'''It's funny how things turn out sometimes,'' said Kelly, owner of virtually every passing record in team history. ''Looking back, I'm so happy (Bills owner) Ralph Wilson didn't listen to me and trade me before I came to Buffalo because who knows what would have happened.'''

Kelly magic returns to 'The Ralph' [6:09 AM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'As for Canton, the QB who led the Bills to four straight Super Bowls and eight playoff berths in a span of nine seasons, seems a lock ... though not necessarily on the first ballot.'

Capsule preview: Seahawks vs. Bills [6:06 AM]Seattle Times reports:
'On the other side of the ball, the Bills are a mess. Their top receiver is a fullback and their top running back is a rookie who averages 3.2 yards per carry. Expect the Seahawks to tee off on immobile QB Alex Van Pelt.'

Toiling in anonymity [6:04 AM]Everett Herald reports:
'Nobody flew Chris Gray down to Los Angeles for a television appearance last week.'

Good hands keep attention on Centers [6:03 AM]Dallas Morning News reports:
'He has led his team in receiving seven times in the last nine years and leads Buffalo in this his first season with the Bills. In fact, he leads all NFL running backs with 47 catches. He also has caught passes in 128 consecutive games, the third longest active streak in the NFL behind Jerry Rice (233 games) and Tim Brown (132).'

November 17, 2001

Painful lessons in Buffalo [3:12 PM]Tacoma News Tribune reports:
'One year removed from his comparatively low-profile duties as quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks, Sheppard is fielding the tough questions as offensive coordinator for the 1-7 Bills.'

Bills backup Travis Brown is still green [9:06 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'The Bills snapped up Brown because he spent the one season learning the West Coast offense from Holmgren, a master, and was recommended by Bills offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard, the quarterbacks coach under Holmgren in Seattle.'

Unutoa signed for long snaps [9:05 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Steve Freeman, the outstanding Bills safety from 1975 to '86, will serve as the field judge for Sunday's game.'

Special teams look to improve [5:37 AM]Everett Herald reports:
'During his first three years as the Seattle Seahawks' special teams coach, Pete Rodriguez saw his unit give up a total of two return touchdowns. In eight games this year, the Seahawks have already matched that number.'

Even weather works against Buffalo as preparations for 2002 begin [5:35 AM]Niagara Falls Reporter reports:
'Technically, Sunday's game between Seattle and Buffalo is the Bills ninth regular season contest of 2001. In reality, it marks the start of the 2002 preseason. Playoff hopes disappeared for all but the most optimistic in late September. The primary goal for the rest of the season -- building a functional offense around Rob Johnson, making a decision possible on whether the quarterback is worthy of the contract restructuring and extension that salary capenomics mandate -- crashed to the turf at Foxboro Stadium last Sunday afternoon.'

November 16, 2001

Bills sign Unutoa, release Early [1:41 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Bills today announced that the team has signed veteran center/long snapper Mo Unutoa (pronounced oo-nuh-TOE-uh) to the 53-man roster. To make room on the roster, the Bills released center Michael Early. Unutoa will wear jersey #68 with the Bills.

Bills' Gray rejects Cal [1:35 PM]Alameda Times Star reports:
'"I want to make sure that the Bills get back to (their) standard of football before (I think) about going anywhere else."'

Jim Kelly Tribute Wallpaper by 'Moose' [11:44 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
A new Jim Kelly Wallpaper is on the Bills website in honor of Jim Kelly Day. The artist, Gina Mustico, is a poster on the Stdium Wall who first started creating wallpaper for TwoBillsDrive.